Thank you to everyone who came to speak to us at Grand Designs Live at the Birmingham NEC.

We are an approachable team of architects who listen, advise and explain. We do not have a standard design that we roll out on all of our projects, every design is bespoke to the client’s needs, the house and the context.

We are delighted to have had a new build house project unanimously approved by the South Oxfordshire District Planning Committee.

In our post on The Planning Process, the types of Planning applications were briefly mentioned. This post delves deeper into the differences between the types applications and the common reasons for selecting one over another for certain project types.

We advise our clients as to the appropriate route to Planning for their scheme, which other consultants will be necessary to complete the required information and the timescales of this stage of the project.

Following on from our previous post about the process within the Feasibility Stage, this post explores the next stages within the project to develop the initial concepts into a scheme ready to submit to planning.

Whilst we advise you on how best to bring together clever architectural details to set your house apart, we will also be working to ensure that your project meets the technical statutory requirements to gain Building Control approval.

A Feasibility Study assists not only in refining the brief but can clarify the priorities for a build from a very early stage.

If you are starting to consider building your own home, whether it is on a new plot or replacing an existing dwelling, there are a number of points to be aware of.

The process of extending or altering a Listed Building or a property within a Conservation Area is more extensive than for a standard property, but with the right guidance and working with the appropriate consultants this can be managed accordingly.

If you are considering a building project then it is worth considering whether your project will be affected by the presence of bats.

Fineline Architects developed a sensitive design for a two storey mews style extension to this Victorian townhouse in a Conservation Area to complement the existing property and meet the requirements of the clients brief.

Following on from the Architect’s appointment outlined in our earlier post it is useful to understand the other consultants required as part of the overall process.

Whether you have been thinking about extending your current home for a while, or have recently purchased a new house or plot and are not sure where to start, then speaking to an architect is the first step.

Climate change is a very current topic and as the construction industry has a significant impact on emissions, at Fineline Architects we are working with renewable energy consultants to evolve our design approach to provide a more sustainable working practice.